QUESTION & ANSWER CENTER
1200 W. INTL. SPEEDWAY BLVD.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL. 32114
PH. 386-506-3646 FAX 386-506-3037
FORMAL GRADE APPEAL
STUDENT’S NAME_______________________________________________________________________
STUDENT ID# _______________________ FalconNet email: _____________________________________
TELEPHONE #_______________________________
Students who have a concern about the grade received for a course can file a formal grade appeal once
the informal process has been completed.
Informal Grievance Process for Academic Disputes: The College provides an informal procedure to assist
faculty and students in resolving grade disputes. The teaching faculty is authorized to issue grades based on their
assessment of the student’s level of performance, participation, quality and quantity of work. However, students who
believe a faculty member has issued an incorrect grade(s) based on written documentation may seek recourse
through the Informal Grievance Process, as outlined below:
It is the student’s responsibility to request a conference with the instructor(s) involved within 30 calendar days after
the end of the term in which the grade was issued. If the student and the instructor agree on the terms and
conditions of a grade change or grade dispute the matter will be resolved. If the student disagrees with the instructor,
or is not comfortable speaking with the instructor the student’s next step is to contact the appropriate School Chair.
The Chair may arrange a meeting with the student and the instructor in an effort to resolve the grade dispute. If the
issue remains unresolved, the matter moves to the Formal Grievance Process.
Formal Grievance Process for Academic Grade Disputes
The student must submit the formal grievance in writing to the Question and Answer Center who will forward it to the
appropriate associate vice president who reviews the written grievance and renders a decision. If the student is
satisfied with the decision the matter is closed. If the student is not satisfied with the decision, the matter moves to
the administrative review process.
The college response to all appeals will be sent to the FalconMail account.
Please indicate the reason(s) for your appeal on the back of this form or in an attached letter. Be sure to attach the
required supporting documents to verify the reasons for your appeal in addition to your statement. Attach additional
pages as necessary. PLEASE WRITE LEGIBLY.
COURSE PREFIX
NUMBER
SECT
#
SUBSESSION
(CIRCLE ONE FOR
EACH COURSE)
A
B
FULL
YEAR
TERM
STUDENT SIGNATURE:
LAST DATE
ATTENDED
DATE:
APPROVED
APPEAL
INPUT
EMAIL/LETTER
SENT
COMMENT:
FACULTY NAME
TUITION
ADJUSTED
CONTACT
INPUT
APPROVER’S SIGNATURE
FORMAL GRADE APPEAL – REVISED JUNE 2013
DENIED
DENIED BY:
EMAIL/LETTER
SENT
COMMENT:
DATE PROCESSED:
CONTACT
INPUT
Appeal Policies
College policies are printed in the college catalog and are displayed on the web site. The college will accept an
appeal of college policies to assist students who have experienced an extraordinary set of circumstances (e.g. a
prolonged hospitalization, serious illness, death of an immediate family member, or non-voluntary military activation).
Documentation from someone other than the student, such as health care providers, clergy, attorneys and/or other
professionals, must be attached to the appeal application to verify the extraordinary circumstances.
Appeals can be made for the following situations:
-- Financial Aid Suspension
-- Waiver of full cost tuition for the 3rd attempt of a class
-- 4th attempt permission
-- Grade change from “F” to “W”
-- Formal Grade Appeal
-- Administrative Drop
-- Withdraw from a class after the deadline to receive a W grade without GPA penalty
At times the academic and administrative appeal actions requested of the College adversely affect a student. When
classes are dropped or all classes are changed to “withdrawal” as part of an appeal, the student financial aid award
will need to be recalculated. As a result, a student may owe repayment of all or part of the financial aid received. The
College recommends that each student thinking of submitting an appeal verify with the Office of Financial Aid that
the requested action will not adversely affect their aid status or payments before submitting an appeal.
Appeal Process:
An appeal application needs to be completed and returned to the Question and Answer Center, Room 119, Building
100, on the Daytona campus or to the Falcon Center on any campus. A signed written statement along with
additional documentation supporting the appeal is required. In some cases the application will be forwarded to
the appropriate Appeal Committee for review, in others, the Q&A Center staff has been authorized to act on the
appeal application.
Appeals for extraordinary circumstances may be made in cases of serious illness, death of an immediate family
member, or non-voluntary military activation. Supporting documents to verify the reasons for your appeal are
required. Issues such as child care, transportation, employment changes are not normally considered
extraordinary circumstances for college appeals.
The college response will be done as soon as possible, recognizing that some appeals will require contact with
faculty members, and consultations with the Records Office, Financial Aid Office, and Student Accounts. The
college response to all appeals will be sent to the student FalconMail account.
Financial Aid Suspension: Students who have received student financial assistance are required by federal regulations to
maintain satisfactory academic progress. The full policy is listed in the college catalog. To be in compliance a student must
earn a grade point average of 2.0 or higher, and earn 67% of all courses attempted. In addition, an aid recipient must complete
their degree within 150% of the normal timeframe (credits attempted). If there were extraordinary circumstances that prevented
a student from making satisfactory progress, which will no longer be a factor, an appeal of the suspension may be approved.
The last date to submit an appeal of this nature is the first day of class for the semester in question.
In certain cases a one-time extension to the 150% rule can be approved during which time a student is allowed to receive aid
only in courses that are needed to complete their current degree or certificate program. An approved graduation check-down
will be required prior to approval of a time limit appeal.
rd
Waiver of full cost tuition for the 3 attempt of a class: The State of Florida does not allow a student to attempt a course
rd
more than twice and receive the benefit of in-state tuition. Students who attempt a course for the 3 time are required to pay the
nd
full cost of education (out of state tuition rate). If extraordinary circumstances were present during the 2 attempt, a waiver for
rd
the full cost charge can be approved by the college. The grade earned during the 3 attempt must be entered; a withdrawal
rd
from the 3 attempt cannot be done. The last date to submit an appeal of this nature is the last day of class for the semester in
question.
th
th
4 attempt permission: In extraordinary circumstances, a student may need to attempt a class for the 4 time, if extraordinary
circumstances were present during the 3rd attempt. In all cases student must pay the out of state tuition rate. The grade earned
during the 4th attempt will be entered; a withdrawal from the 4th attempt cannot be done. Detailed written documentation is
necessary, and the appeal must be done prior to the start of the semester.
Withdraw from a class after the deadline to receive a W grade: The academic calendar indicates the last date to withdraw
from a class in order to receive a “W” grade without grade point penalty. A student who stops attending after that date will
receive the grade awarded by the instructor (usually an “F” if all work is not completed). In extraordinary circumstances, the
student may appeal to receive a “W” after the published date. If this appeal approval results in a withdrawal from all courses, a
student receiving financial aid will be subject to the federal refund formula calculations, and may result in a balance due for
tuition and fees. In some cases, depending on the enrollment cycle for other classes, a W grade will affect future financial aid
disbursements. The last date to submit an appeal of this nature is prior to the grade being entered for the semester.
Grade change from “F” to “W”: Students who register for a class and do not withdraw, or for students who cease attending a
class usually receive an “F” grade. In extraordinary circumstances, the college will approve an appeal requesting the grade of
“F” be changed to a “W” with the permission of the instructor and department chair. Appeals of this nature are forwarded to the
academic area for review and action. The last date to submit an appeal of this nature is the last day of class of the next major
semester after the course was taken. Students who have received financial aid will be reviewed to insure all federal regulations
are applied retroactively to the date of withdrawal, many times resulting in a balance due.
Formal Grade Appeal: Students who believe a faculty member has issued an incorrect grade(s) based on written documentation may seek recourse through the Informal Grievance Process as outlined in the Student Handbook. The College provides
an informal procedure to assist faculty and students in resolving grade disputes. The teaching faculty is authorized to issue
grades based on their assessment of the student’s level of performance, participation, quality and quantity of work. If the student
and the instructor cannot agree during the informal process the student may submit the formal grievance in writing to the
Question and Answer Center who will forward it to the appropriate associate vice president, who reviews the written grievance
and renders a decision.
Administrative Drop: A student who has paid the tuition bill may request a refund if there is extenuating circumstances that
may warrant such an action. Documentation for this request needs to be extensive and indicate a serious personal situation that
prevented a withdrawal prior to the start of the term in question. A student who has received financial aid could owe a
repayment resulting from the recalculation of enrollment status, or if this appeal results in a drop from all courses, a student will
be subject to the federal refund formula calculations and/or the requirement that all financial aid funds be returned. In some
cases the result may be a balance due for tuition and fees. A student who received a financial aid refund, or received a book
voucher, will have to return all funds disbursed prior to the drop being processed if the appeal is approved. The last date to
submit an appeal of this nature is prior to the grade being entered for the semester.